Regulator system



E. E. L EHR REGULATOR SYSTI I Filed Sept. 16 1921 wmv SE5: 7 I NVENTOR 6. fdMfiELe/m Patented June 2, 1925.

1,539,852 PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN E. LEHR, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPAN Y, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

REGULATOR sYs'rEivr.

Application filed September 16, 1921. Serial No. 501,145.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN E. LEHR, a citizen of the United States, and a. resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Regulator Systems, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to regulators for supply circuits and it has special relation to regulators of the step-type.

One object of the present invention is to provide a regulator of the above-indicated character which shall be totally automatic in operation.

Another object of my invention 1s to provide a regulator of the above-indicated character which shall comprise a plurality of control magnets and relays successively operated to maintain a predetermined voltage characteristic.

My invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein the single figure is a diagrammatic illustration of circuits and apparatus embodying my invention.

A supply circuit, comprlsing conductors 1 and 2 has an auto-transformer 3 connected thereto between the source of power and the distribution or load point. The transformer 3 comprises a plurality of winding sections formed by taps 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 and 13, the circuits to which are controlled by a plurality of relays, as hereinafter described, to maintain a predetermined voltage at the load point.

A control magnet 14, comprising an energizing coil 15 and a core armature 16, is secured to one end of a pivoted lever 18. The operation of the lever 18 controls a pair of contact members 19 one of which is mounted upon a second lever 21 which also controls a pair of contact members 22. Two coils 23 and 24 are also mounted upon the core armature 16. The coil 15 operates the lever 18 in response to variations of the line voltage. When the line voltage increases, the lever 18 is moved to close contact members 19, thereby energizing coil 23. If there is .a further increase in line voltage, contact members 22 will be closed, thereby completing the circuit to energize coil 24. The purpose of coils 23 and 24 is to successively increase the effective ampere turns of the control magnet so that, when the magnet opcrates, the contact members will respectively be maintained closed until the line voltage has fallen a predetermined amount below the settlng of the control magnet. Hence, there will be no chattering or unnecessary vibratmg action of the contact members 19 and 22. Anenergizing circuit will be completed for the coil 25 of control relay 26 when contact members 19 are closed. Likewise, an energizing circuit will be completed for the coil 27 of control relay 28 when contact members 22 are actuated. The relay 26 has a core armature 29 that controls contact members 31 and also an interlock switch 32. The relay 28 has a core armature 33 that controls contact members 34 and also an interlock switch 35.

A plurality of auxiliary relays 36, 37 and 38 are adapted to be governed by the operation of the control relays 26 and 28. Relay 36 comprises an energizing coil 41 and a core armature 42 that controls contact members 43. Relay 37 comprises energizing coil 44 and core armature 45 that controls contact members 46. Relay 38 comprises an energizing coil 47 and core armature 48 that controls contact members 49.

In the position illustrated, the coil 15 of 'the control magnet is normally energized to maintain the contact members 19 and 22 separated. Also, normally, the'circuit to coil 47 of relay 38 will be completed across transformer taps 7 and 13 through the interlock switch 32. Accordingly, the entire transformer is energized and supply-circuit and load-conditions are balanced.

In case of an increase in line voltage, the coil 15 of control magnet 14will receive an increased energization to move the lever 18 to close contact members 19. A circuit will then be completed for the coil 25 of control relay 26 and also for the holding coil 23, the function of which has heretofore been described. The operation of the control relay 26 will complete the circuit through contact members 31 to coil 44 of relay switch 37, through the interlock switch 35, and will interrupt the circuit previously completed by interlock switch 32, thereby de-energizing coil 47 of relay switch 38. Thus, the transformer 3 has been varied an amount necessary to compensate for the increased line voltage so as to deliver a substantially constant voltage at the distribution point. The relay switch 37 will maintain the indicated connections until the line voltage increases or decreases a definite amount determined by the control magnet 14.

Assuming a further increase in line voltage, the coil 15 will receive a further increased energization to further move the lever 18 and the lever 21 to close the contact members 22. A circuit will then be completed for the holding coil 24:, the function of which has been heretofore described, and also will complete a circuit to the coil 27 of the control relay 28. Upon operation of relay 28, the circuit through contact members 34 will be completed and the circuit normally maintained by the interlock switch 35 will be interrupted. The coil 44 of relay switch 37 becomes de-energized by interrupting the circuit through interlock switch 35, thus opening the circuit completed by that switch. The engagement of the contact members 34 will energize coil 41 of relay switch 36, thus completing the circuit from transformer tap 11 to transformer tap 13 and further varying the transformer 3 to compensate for the further increase in line voltage. The converse operations occur upon a decrease in line voltage.

Obviously, the initial adjustment of the transformer may be such that the relay switches will control the circuits to any of the taps. Also, it will be apparent that any number of relay switches and control relays therefor may be used.

Accordingly, modifications in the system and arrangement and location of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention but such modifications are intended t be covered bv the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a regulator system for a supply circuit, the combination with a transformer having a plurality of sections, of means for varying the number. of sections of said transformer which are included in said circuit, said means comprising a. control mag net having an operating coil, contact members successively controlled by said magnet, control relays having energizing coils successively controlled by said contact members and a second set of relays governed by said control relays and adapted tosuccessively control the sections of said transformer.

2. In a regulator system, the combination with a regulating transformer comprising a plurality of sections, of means for varying the number of sections of said transformer which are included in circuit, said means comprising a control magnet, contact members controlled by said magnet, control relays having energizing coils controlled by said contact members and a second set of relays controlled by said first mentioned relays.

3. In a regulator system, the combination with a regulating transformer comprising 2.

plurality of sections, of means for varying the number of sections of said transformer which are included in circuit, said means comprising a control magnet having an operating coil and a plurality of holding coils, contact members controlled by said magnet, relays having energizing coils controlled by said contact members, interlock switches operated by said relays and a second set of relays having energizing coils the circuits to which are governed by said interlock switches and relay switches.

4. In a regulating system, the combination with a regulating transformer, one winding of which has a plurality of sections, of means for varying the number of active sections of said transformer winding, said means comprising a control magnet, a plurality of contact members controlled thereby, a plurality of control relays res ectively governed by the actuation of sai contact members and a by said contro relays, one of said lastnamed relays being normally energized to maintain a predetermined voltage and the remaining relays successively operating to vary the transformer winding to maintain the predetermined voltage.

5. In a regulator system, the combinationwith a variable transformer, of control means therefor comprising a control magnet, a plurality of contact members controlled thereby, a plurality of control relays governed by the actuation of said contact members and a plurality of relays governed by said control relays, one of said relays being normallyy energized to maintain a predetermined voltage and the remaining relays operating to vary the transformer to maintain the predetermined voltage.

6. Ina regulator system, the combination yith a variable transformer, of control means therefor comprising a control magnet, a plurality of control relays governed by said magnet, interlock switches associated with said control relays and a plurality of relays governed by said control relays, the circuit to one of the last-mentioned relays being normally completed through one of said interlock switches.

7. In a regulator system, the combination with a variable transformer comprising a plurality of relays governed plurality of sections, of means for. varying the number of active sections of said transformer, said means comprising a control magnet having three contro-l coils, a plurality of contact members controlled in accordance with the position of said magnet, a plurality of control relays governed by the actuationof said cont-act members and a plurality of relays one of which is normally energized and the remaining relays being normally de-energized and successively operated by said control relays.-

8. In a regulator system, the combination with a variable transformer, of control means therefor comprising a magnet having a plurality of coils, one of which is an operating coi a plurality of control relays governed by the operation of said magnet, interlock switches controlled by said relays and a lurality of auxiliary relays, one of which 1s normally energized through one of said interlock switches and the remaining auxiliary relays being successively operated l by said control relays.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of August 1921.

EDWIN LEHR. 

